Nausea and Anxiety

So, my surgery is on the 4th which is in two days, and I'm struggling with major anxiety and nausea. Has anyone experienced this? What did you do to relieve it and how did the surgery turn out for you?

I've also never had surgery before, so that's a major factor that's escalating my fear.

I have a great deal of anxiety when it comes to medical procedures. You'll get through it. Don't let fear keep you from a life changing experience. You have this!!!

Thank You! I refuse to let fear get in my way, but it's one hell of a battle that's for sure. So many anxiety attacks, so little time for them. Haha

It is terrible! A couple of people thought I should ask my doc for some anti-anxiety pills just to get through the few weeks approaching my surgery, but I didn't. Maybe that is an option for you. Best of luck to you.

I was 100% excited and looking forward to the procedure until I got undressed and they were putting the IV in my arm. Reading how many people here had backed out once or twice or more and when they finally got up the nerve to go through with it helped me. It helped me realize it's okay to say 'no', I'm not ready but that everyone I read said they made a bigger deal out of the surgery/anxiety and wish they had gone through with it the first time. When I felt myself getting anxious (I used the word curious or unsure at the time), I'd read through old blogs on this site to help gain perspective and motivation.

Tell your staff that you are anxious when you are checking in, they will help reassure you.

I totally concur with the "let the staff know" recommendation. I've always done this before procedures that make me nervous and the nursing staff always rises to the challenge. They keep me chatting and laughing and distracted which is a huge boon!

Anxiety is known to cause lots of physical side effects, and nausea is one. And, surgery is absolutely terrifying for everyone in one way or another, especially if you haven't had it before.

I found that having "surgery buddies," a few people I confided in when my anxiety got super bad helped. I also made sure to be extra kind to myself the days before surgery. I would comfort myself and remind myself things would be alright because I picked a surgeon well, and all my pre-op testing came back good. I reminded myself I could make it...and made sure to focus on happy and pleasant things before surgery. I watched more comedy skits in the two days before surgery than the year before, heh.

I did things that soothed me the day or two before. I took a nice bath the night before and relaxed, for instance. I also relied upon my inner 90s kid (I graduated high school in 1995) and made myself a dorky surgery mixtape. Well, it was actually an Apple music playlist, but hey it was a modern mixtape, right? >.>

Last of all, remind yourself it's okay to be scared. It's surgery, which is a big deal. You are having a 100% natural reaction to having to get surgery, and there's nothing wrong with that.

LOL at the mixtape :D I always get "I wanna be sedated" in my head prior to surgery.

My surgeon's perspective was that fear was a healthy thing. I was anxious because I understood that surgery is a Big Deal that would change my life. Heck, he said he'd be worried if I WASN'T nervous!

Preparation is one way that I handle my anxiety, and it helped me a lot before my WLS. I read over all of my surgeon's materials one last time, and made a clif's notes version for my husband and mom who would be helping me after surgery. I read old posts on the forums to see what my post-op challenges would be. I made sure I had all of my shopping done, and got stuff like Crystal Light and a big comfy house-dress to wear during recovery.

Despite all my worry, the surgery went well and it was one of the best things I've ever done.

I didn't experience this with VSG, but it's also TOTALLY normal. So you're not alone or weird or anything!

Do you have any mindfulness practices? Meditation, for example? I really love the Headspace app and you get the first 10 sessions free, so that would cover you until surgery :) Basically, work on deep breathing once or twice a day.

Also, try to stay as busy as possible in order to distract yourself. That really helped me pre-op.

Have you talked to anyone about what you can expect on the day of surgery to help ease your fears? Or would that not be helpful for you? I'm happy to share my "surgery day" experience if it would help you to know what to expect!